My name is ABW

and I spend all day cleaning.

I put Sammy outside so I could sweep the floor without him trying to eat all the crumbs I swept up.  I ended up with this.

So I took him into the bathroom thinking since Gunner just bathed him on Friday that everything would be under the sink.  It wasn't.  Of course I didn't discover this until I had him in the tub and wet, with mud everywhere.  I tried rinsing him with a small red cup.  It didn't work too well, so I left him in the tub with orders to stay, closed the door, and then ran to the kitchen to find something bigger.

I returned to find him out of the tub, mud everywhere because he had to shake all the muddy water off, all over the bathroom.

I loaded him back in the tub, bathed him, and then spent the next half hour drying the pup so he wouldn't get sick. 

He's not allowed in the backyard again until it is dry.

I then ran to get Junior from school, and found out that he had two accidents.  He was out of clothes so they put him in shorts.  I loaded him up feeling like a horrible parent, and ran to the car to take him home and change him.

Then we had swim lessons, and I was able to squeak in some time on the stairmaster and the weights.  We got home and started homework.  Em got moved up in math, so I spent an hour tonight trying to catch her up.  They should have listened to me 13 weeks ago when I told them she was in the wrong class, but then what do I know?

We got The Listening Program today, and I set it up so Abs could do her listening assignment.  It's basically classical music that is set to work different parts of the brain, and it has had amazing results.  For the price tag, it should!  She came out relaxed and in love with the program.  She already loves classicall music, and then was just music to her ears...literally.  Hopefully we will see positive results.

I cleaned the majority of the mud off the bathroom, worked, and am now ready to retire for the night.  I'm exhausted.  Tomorrow I signed up for a spinning class.  I loved the classes in Texas, and will hopefully fall right back into it, although it has been a while.  Maybe I will even try yoga too.  We have a turkey trot this weekend if Gunner can find 5 minutes to run over to MWR.  Em wants to give it a try, so we are taking the whole family.  Should be interesting at least!  Em's also mentioned that now that she is getting better at swimming, she also wants to try a triathlon!  How can I say no to that? 

Sweet dreams...of anything other than mud, dirt, and cleaning.

The price you pay

I jetted away to Texas on Thursday.  I arrived in Houston just as my mom and sister were pulling through the pickup line at the airport.  We hopped in and went to my uncle's house where I had enough time to change clothes and then head over to the church for my grandmother's viewing.

My mom is one of 7 kids.  Imagine 7 kids with children and grandchildren.  Some have procreated more prolificly than others have ever even thought about.  We spent the night with my brother and then the next day headed to the funeral.

My grandmother was a military wife, during WWII and Korea.  My grandfather would leave for years at a time, and correspondance was shotty at best.  She used to venture down to the post office twice a day with my mother in tow, to check for a letter from him.  They also listed those that had been killed, in the newspaper and you would have to check there as well.  I can't even imagine.

It was great to see my immediate family and my extended family and my mom and sisters and I headed back to Georgetown Friday night.  We had Mexican for dinner, and then for lunch the next day.  I could have eaten it every single meal.

While I was basking in the beautiful weather in Texas, Gunner and the kiddos were freezing in Colorado.  They got about 6-8" of snow.  While I was wishing I had brought sandals, he was bundling them up in their snow gear to go sledding.

While I was waiting to board my flight on Sunday, TSA was all over our gate.  They started doing random searches, and everyone was giving the other passengers a once-over to see if anyone looked suspicious.  We finally got out of there late, and I used my drink coupons to have a glass of wine on the ride home.

When we arrived in Denver, the ground was covered in snow.  I finally made it out to my car, which was buried under the snow.  The doors were frozen shut.  Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less.

I pried open two doors, and turned on the car, found Gunner's ice scraper, and then loaded my luggage into the trunk.  As I was going back for my second suitcase, I slipped on the ice and fell.  I hit my butt, whacked my head, and slammed my elbows into the ground.  I started to cry.  I laid there for a few minutes whimpering and realized I was out at the far end of the parking lot, it was dark, there was snow, and no one was going to care, so I got up.

I wiped my tears, loaded the last suitcase, and started shoveling the snow off.  I finally got the car in a driveable condition and headed home.  My windows were frozen shut and fogged up, and the car never got warm.  Time to check the radiator fluid.  I made it home almost three hours later (from the time my flight landed).

Before Gunner arrives home after a deployment, a TDY or field time, I scrub the house from top to bottom.  Apparently he didn't get that memo!  So although the house was a mess, the kids were happy and tucked into bed.  They had a great time with movie nights, sledding, trying to make a snowman, and just hanging out.  I'll clean the house, after all, he did keep them alive!

This morning when Junior got up he had thrown up in his sleep.  Lucky me.  It looked like he just did it once, and he seemed fine, so I called Gunner to see if he was acting sick at all.

Me:  Junior threw up sometime last night.
Gunner:  Really? (total surprise)
Me:  Yeah, was he acting okay last night?
Gunner:  Yep.  Although did I mention he at an entire tube of toothpaste?
Me:  Are you kidding?
Gunner:  No, I sent him to go potty, how was I supposed to know he would eat a tube of toothpaste?

So Junior is fine today, the sheets are cleaned, and I'm locking up the toothpaste.

Thank you...

Thank you to all our friends and family that serve/served.  Of course a special thank you to my Soldier...

Fort Hood Fundraiser

Support the Fort Hood AUSA Relief Fund

Join Texas Roadhouse in Killeen on Wednesday, November 11th for a lunch fundraiser to benefit the Fort Hood AUSA Relief Fund. This fund supports the families of the service men and women killed or wounded in the line of duty and we are honored to support this Legendary cause!

Stop in from 12PM-3PM for a complimentary lunch in exchange for a minimum $5 donation. Lunch includes a choice of pulled pork, BBQ chicken, grilled chicken salad or a 6oz sirloin with a loaded baked potato, house salad, rolls and a soft drink.

All donations will go directly to the Fort Hood AUSA Relief Fund to help the families of the recent tragedy. Please come out and show your support! 

Thanks to Texas Roadhouse for supporting this worthy cause.  

Junior

A few pictures of Junior....

Trying to make his own simple motor...

The cowlick is getting out of control again.

Denver Zoo

It was free day at the Denver Zoo today, so we figured it was as good a time as any to head on up there and check it out.  Free in Killeen means that at least half of the population turns out.  In Denver, it means that 99% of the population turns out.

Gunner dropped us off at the front and went to find parking.  Of course we had driven an hour, so they were hungry famished.  We snacked while waiting for Gunner to find us.  Abs being Abs, she wanted to see every single animal at the zoo. 

Abs held Junior's hand and read every informational sign to him.  She would try to hoist him up to see.  A far cry from wanting to donate him to Science the night before when he bit her.

Just a random picture on one of the signs.  Abs thinks that he has heard about Obama's health care plan.

We have about 20 pictures of these two on the ape, but they are not looking at us in any of them.  Em was too busy texting.

We saw about 50% of the zoo before the crowds got to be too overwhelming for all of us.

Not before we saw these two recent additions to the zoo:

Good grief!  We saw this sign on the way home:

And what Texan couldn't stop for a small taste of home?

Once again, I was along for the ride, but in none of the shots.

The zoo was nice, but next time I won't be so cheap, and we'll pay for tickets so we don't have to fight the crowds. 

Cool Science at UCCS

I'm frugal (most of the time).  I'm always looking for something fun for the kids (the parent in me), and where they can also learn something (the teacher and parent in me). 

Saturday morning I told the kiddos we were going to go to UCCS and hit the Cool Science Day.  Abs wanted no part of that.  "It's going to be boring."  "Who wants to learn about Science anyway."  "I can have more fun playing legos all day in the basement."  "I have nothing to wear."  "Why do you do this to me???"

Regardless, I let her leave the house in mismatched clothing and we headed out.  When we got there, Abs was drawn in right away.  They had 36 booths setup through the building, and gave the students a passport so they could check off each one as they completed it.  Abs is a checklist girl. 

We started out by looking at sound waves, testing sound waves, and experimenting with sound. 

From there we moved to shadows, lasers, mirrors and working with light.

Simple motors...

 

Then it was on to simple machines, dinosaurs, and working with dry ice.

There was a whole section on space, stars, and making rockets.

They touches snakes and iguanas, flew space shuttle simulators, created hover aircraft out of balloons, worked with air, made worms, and tons more.

We acted like birds migrating, and played a game that had us running all over the rooftop trying to make it south for the winter.  I got tons of ideas for science classes, and all the materials to do the experiments.  Abs was enthralled with every station, asking questions and trying to soak up as much as possible which is her method of operation.  The poor little guy at the raisin and ginger ale booth didn't know what hit him.  Everyone came and looked, then moved on, while Abs sat there for 15 minutes quizzing him on everything about the raisins, why it worked, how it worked, and then re-explained it back to him to make sure she understood.  The workers were great, and I think were glad to have someone that was interested in the how and the why rather than flitting about from booth to booth.

When it was all said and done, and we had visited every single booth, we finally were able to drag Abs out of there.  As we walked to the car I asked her how she enjoyed it, and her response was "I guess it was okay".  I know she had a great time, regardless of her answers, and Em and Junior loved it. 

Gunner took the kids swimming at the Y while I finished up some school work since I am flying out this week to TEXAS!!!!  We're hoping to get some things done this morning so we can head out this afternoon to somewhere new.....

Carving Pumpkins

I can't believe we didn't get shots of Abs in her costume too. She wouldn't sit still and have any part of that, and she looked so cute! Em went with a friend, so she was back in regular clothes by the time she got home. Next year, I'll be on top of it. I'm thinking that because Gunner is usually gone I am a little more adamant about taking pictures.

Fort Hood & my Grandmother

Yesterday I was sitting here eating my leftover pho, and looking forward to going to SYTYCD with Em.

My neighbor, also Army (we live next to AF, Army, Navy, officers, and enlisted), came banging on my door to tell me to turn on the news.

My stomach dropped, and I couldn't even believe it.  After 6 1/2 years of living there the last time, and we were also stationed there when we started this Army trip, Fort Hood will always hold a special place in our heart.

I talked to friends.  I scoured the internet.  I was glued to the tv.  (BTW, kudos to Fox News)  My cell was going crazy with texts from the outlaws, friends, and fellow teachers.  I watched the president give "shout-outs" to his friends, and was digusted with his speech. 

My heart breaks when I think of the Soldiers and civilians that were killed and injured.  I never worried when I sent Gunner to the SRP to prepare to deploy.  I'm sure none of those families did either.  How can someone that is trained to help people, hurt them?  Obviously as they investigate everything they are coming up with all kinds of red flags.  It reminds me of a story of when Gunner was in Bosnia for a year.  One of the Soldiers was upset that he had to be there, wanted out, and wanted to go home.  He proceeded to write the CO's, XO's, and other Soldiers names on each bullet.  They pulled him from duty for 24 hours, and then he was back.  Nothing happened, he served his time, and then got out.  You never know....

I finally tore myself away from the tv, and Em and I left for SYTYCD.  My brother called to let me know that my Grandmother had passed away.

It had been coming for a while, but following the events of the day, it drained me even more.  

Em and I had a good time at SYTYCD and I managed to only check email and FB a few times to make sure I wasn't missing anything. 

It took me an hour to decompress when I finally got home and tucked Em into bed. 

It was a day of tragedy, sadness, and loss both in my own family and my Army family. 

In a funk...

I don't know what my deal is these last couple of days, but I just can't seem to be motivated.

Three cups of coffee this morning, and I was down for a nap by 10.  When I woke up I needed some pho, so off I went.  I cleaned the kitchen today, but that's about all that I've done other than get the kids ready for school and walk the dog.

We found something really cool to go to this weekend, so I'll at least have something to blog about. 

Gunner took Halloween pictures with his phone since I didn't have mine, so I need to get them from him so I can post them.  Em went with friends, so we just had Junior and Abs--a dragon and a 50's girl.  They were adorable and we have about 20 lbs of candy.

We carved pumpkins and went to Focus on the Family on Saturday too.  The girls made another radio show, which is their favorite part of the whole place.

The girls started swimming lessons and they went well.  I was worried that Abs wouldn't be excited about it, but she hopped in and tried her best.

Got the referral for Visual Therapy, but I think it's for the wrong thing, so I have a call into the clinic to the insurance lady to sort it out.  Abs also qualified for PT, so we start that in a few weeks.  Luckily it's only 30 minutes once a week.  We go on Friday to see how often she will be on the schedule for OT.  That's going to be more intense, and then once we get the VT figured out, we'll add that to the mix.  Between therapies, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons we are booked.  It's really not that much, but we like our down time. 

I'm still plugging away in school, but I think I am only going to take one class next semester.  Two is taking up so much time, and with the kids, I just need to take a breather.  One class will be plenty for next semester.

I'm looking into possibly doing some volunteer work to teach ESL classes to adults.  I sent in the request, but haven't heard anything back. 

I'm visiting two PEO chapters this week to check them out, and Em and I are going to the So You Think You Can Dance tour on Thursday! 

We've almost gone half the basement cleaned out, so once that's done we can put down the flooring.  Gunner wants a rug, but I want cheap linoleum.  He thinks carpeting will be more comfortable but since the movers lost our vacuum, and the roomba has decided that it will only go backwards and quit after a few minutes, I can imagine the mess it would turn into.  Since we have hardwoods upstairs, the shark takes care of the parts I can't sweep.  Exciting times in the Gunner household.